Fuel-saving gasoline-electric hybrid cars don't save as much fuel as thought, according to new government fuel-economy ratings available to the public for the first time. Toyota's Prius, the best-known and best-selling gas-electric car in the United States, drops from a 60 mpg rating under the current system to 48 miles per gallon in the city under the 2008 testing procedure -- a 20 percent decline Its highway mileage rating falls about 12 percent, to 45 mpg. MORE

From the Reuters post: “A sister company to Toyota Motor Corp secured a lithium supply deal in Argentina on Wednesday that could help the world’s largest automaker keep its lead in gasoline-electric hybrid cars. Lithium, a highly reactive and versatile metal, is expected to be in increasing demand as carmakers choose costly but more efficient lithium-ion batteries to power hybrid and electric vehicles. MORE

could reportedly produce up to 60,000 Volt electric cars in 2010 , its first anticipated year on the market. Bloomberg, citing anonymous sources, reported Wednesday that first year sales of the automaker's plug-in hybrid could quadruple that of the Toyota Prius' U.S. MORE

The research also indicates that consumers have relatively low product knowledge of electric-only and electric-hybrid vehicles and see electric technology vehicles as useful for those who do limited driving. When asked to name an alternative fuel technology other than gasoline powered automobiles, 56% said electric vehicles while nearly a third identified gasoline-electric hybrids. Gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles rose from 15 to 22%. MORE

Bridging the gap between battery electric vehicles and gasoline-electric hybrids we find cars like the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In and the 2012 Chevrolet Volt. Both are essentially hybrid vehicles, but use the technology in different ways to achieve different aims. Ultimately though, which vehicle costs less to run? Ray Iannuzzelli at GM-Volt.com. MORE

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announced that as of the end of June, worldwide cumulative sales of the Prius gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle (generations I, II and III) passed the 3-million mark. Total global Prius nameplate sales (the expanded Prius family) are at 3.436 million units. TMC launched the Prius in 1997. In addition, TMC applied for 1,261 patents relating to the third-generation Prius. Cumulative Prius Sales. Prius I. MORE

The all-electric range of the Prius Plug-In (23 km) will cover more than 50% of distances driven by single cars each day in Japan, according to Toyota. Prius Plug-In Performance Specs (Japan). Gasoline-electric hybrid fuel efficiency. Electricity efficiency. MORE

Just ten years ago, cars like the 2002 Toyota Prius traded performance for unbelievably-high gas mileage, bringing the concept of eco-friendly gasoline electric hybrid cars to the masses. Recently however, automakers like BMW have used full hybrid technology to give high performance luxury cars like the 5-Series a gas mileage boost without MORE

Prius: > $6 per 100 miles RAV4 EV: 0 - $2.50 Tags: plug-in prius gasoline electricity RAV4 EV MORE

It’s official: not only does the 2013 Ford C-Max Energi Plug-in hybrid travel further in all-electric mode than the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in hybrid, but it will cost less too. As Ford detailed last night, its first plug-in hybrid will retail for $33,750, has a combined gasoline + electric range of 550 miles, is expected to get a combined MORE

Polk, the Prius family cars (Prius Liftback, Prius v, Prius Plug-in, and Prius c) accounted for 61,893 vehicles registered in California in 2012, making Prius the Nº 1 vehicle badge sold in the state. With 236,659 units of the Prius family sold throughout the US in 2012 ( earlier post ), California thus accounted for 26.2% of all US Prius family sales in the year. According to R.L MORE

Toyota may have started the hybrid revolution with its original Prius, the first mass-produced gasoline-electric hybrid car and the vehicle which quickly became the eco badge of honor for celebrities and city dwellers alike. But ten years after the first Prius rolled into the U.S., MORE

The new Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept. Toyota has provided some initial details on the new Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept to be unveiled next week at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The Plug-in Prius will support an all-electric driving range of about 20 km (12.4 Over longer distances and higher speeds, the Prius Plug-in switches to conventional gasoline-electric full hybrid operation. Click to enlarge. MORE

The majority of the vehicles are electric, with a small number being plug-in gasoline-electric hybrids. Modern electric cars offer power and bucket loads of torque. The consortium will develop and demonstrate 110 road-worthy vehicles to be trialed in the two cities over 12 months, 40 of which will be smart electric vehicles. Electricity providers E.ON Ford Focus Battery Electric Vehicle. MORE

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) will begin sales in Japan on 30 August of an onboard device designed to alert pedestrians and others audibly to the presence of a quiet vehicle, such as a gasoline-electric hybrid. The device will be available nationwide through authorized Toyota dealers and Toyota genuine parts and accessories distributors for retrofitting on the third-generation Prius. MORE

Set to go on sale in early 2013, Honda’s 2014 Accord Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) Sedan ( earlier post ) will offer the ability to run in an all-electric mode for 10 to 15 miles and a calculated total driving range of more than 500 miles. Electric driving is supported by a 6.7 MORE

Per previously announced plans, Toyota now officially announces the imminent availability of a plug-in version of their 3rd generation Prius gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle. Approximately 600 units will be leased to government and business fleets in the United States, Europe and Japan through the first half of 2010. Experience gained through MORE

Eligible vehicles must meet all three criteria: Possess a gasoline-electric hybrid or alternative fuel powertrain; Achieve a minimum of 35 highway and city miles per gallon (MPG or MPG equivalent); and. Qualifying Toyota vehicles include the Camry Hybrid, Avalon Hybrid, Prius, Prius Prime, Prius c, Prius v, and Mirai. MORE

clip) Outcompeted by gasoline in the early days of the car, electricity is returning in the form of gasoline-electric hybrids that significantly reduce fuel use. A Prius converted by the CalCars group gets more than 100 mpg of petroleum. MORE

established with China FAW Group Corporation in China’s Sichuan Province, has begun production of the third-generation Prius”gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle at its Changchun Plant. Production of the Prius began in China in 2005, marking the first time the vehicle was produced outside Japan. Sichuan FAW Toyota Motor Co., Ltd., a joint vehicle-production company. MORE

In addition to increasing to 14 the gasoline-electric hybrid models it offers, Toyota said, it plans to offer more fuel-efficient gasoline engines and to offer its first engines that can burn mixtures of ethanol and gas. company that builds prototype plug-in models of the Prius. MORE

million units, the Prius family accounts for 3.3 million Prius; 224,000 Prius α (Prius v); 259,700 Aqua (Prius c). Furthermore, Toyota estimates that its hybrid vehicles have saved approximately 11 million liters of gasoline (approximately 2.9 MORE

The aggressive plans illustrate Chinas growing commitment to electrified vehicles and its strategy to support auto makers developing various types of electric cars and components with research subsidies. Prius hybrid. Related Articles UK electric car buyers to get £5,000. MORE

In hybrids and other vehicles with an electrified powertrain, PCUs supply electrical power from the battery to the motor to control vehicle speed, and also send electricity generated during deceleration to the battery for storage. MORE

Now available are the third-generation Prius gasoline-electric hybrid midsize vehicle, the Camry and Camry Hybrid midsize sedans and the RAV4 crossover SUV. Toyota Motor has begun sales of Toyota-brand vehicles in South Korea at five new dealerships, including three in Seoul, established by TMC’s local distributor Toyota Motor Korea Co., TMKR). MORE

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) launched the Aqua gasoline-electric compact hybrid—to be marketed as the Prius c in the US—in Japan. A selectable electric-vehicle mode (EV Mode) enables driving with only the electric motor. Automatic air conditioning comes standard on all models and is equipped with an electric inverter compressor run by the electric motor, enabling a comfortably air-conditioned interior even when the engine is off. MORE

Car theft is something every owner has to worry about, whether the vehicle is powered by gasoline, electricity, or a combination of both, But sometimes, rather than stealing an entire car, criminals only go for certain valuable components. Thieves in San Francisco are reportedly targeting Toyota Prius hybrids--and stealing only their battery. MORE

The Prius family of hybrid cars from Toyota is going to get a little bigger as of January when the Japanese automaker will launch a new compact hybrid car for the Japanese market: the 2012 Toyota Aqua. According to Reuters News Service, the Nikkei business daily reports that the compact gasoline electric hybrid will achieve a gas mileage of 94 mpg MORE

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) unveiled the FT-Bh (Future Toyota B-segment Hybrid), a lightweight, next-generation small gasoline-electric hybrid concept car at the 82nd Geneva International Motor Show. FT-Bh. Click to enlarge. MORE

Our PRIUS+ Project Photos PHEV Resources Global Warming Take Action News and Events Contact Us How Carmakers are Responding to the Plug-In Hybrid Opportunity If you ask, "have major auto-makers come around on PHEVs?", Shifted earlier focus to all-electric Focus in 2011 with Magna. MORE

The study by Dr. Jeremy Michalek and colleagues found that while a fleet with plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) with universal high electric range (i.e., Optimal three-segment vehicle design and allocation for various scenarios. Source: Shiau et al. Click to enlarge. MORE

N ow that the number one automaker and the number two automaker has made the commitment to building Plug In hybrid / electric vehicles by 2010, another automotive giant is joining the race. Here is the story from the New York Times : Nissan Plans Electric Car in U.S. MORE

He is an electrical engineer who works on patent law issues. The couple hoped to encourage the development of an electric car industry in the U.S. by partnering with other Tesla Roadster owners to drive cross country in their all-electric sports car this summer. The Electric Auto Association (EAA), of which the Las Vegas Electric Vehicle Association (LVEVA) is a local chapter, supported their cross-country effort. MORE